Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TINE COLORED PEOPLES PROTEST.
An Indignation Meeting Over the Pro-
posed Location Of a school.

An Indignation Meeting Over the Pro-
posed Location of a school.
FErcHEs AND RESOLUTIONS AT A NETTING At
IsRkEL CHURCH LAST SIGBr-THE COLOR LINE
sAIsED-nR DOUGLASS coUSsELs HARMONY.
meeting OF color, d citizens was held last even
ing at Israel NJ Z church, LIST and streets SOUTH
west 70 protest against the using o. the house at
the northeast corner OF Maryland avenue and ~
street for oolored Industrial school The attend
ance, which numbered about 200 included repre-
sentative colored men from every section OF the
city. Mr.. Z s. Atkinson was called upon TO pre-
ztde and J. ID. Baltimore elected secretary.
Rev. X. s. Williams opened the proceedings with
prayer. The chairman, referring 70 the
small attendance, explained it by saying
that IN several churches the people were
30 engaged that they could not come. They
however, would not falter for their cause they De-
neved was Just They were satisfied that the col
ord people OF the District were opposed to the
renting house In question. The white Schools
- said, have good surroundings, but they want TO
put a colored school IN undesirable neighoor-
hood TO aid missionary work III u Is ue ireu 10
elevate th- neghborhood IL should be done by mis-
aonary work anu not by the school money Inc
colored people do not want their children exposed
70 such immoral Influences are TO be found about
Mans Noble snowden. Rev W. ii. Draper, Alfred
stevens, J. Hart, Frederick Douglass, and J. II.
BfOoks were appointed cOuiiItec on fcsoiutioiis-
WHY THEY OBJECT.
During the absence OF the committee Rev. Mr..
Scott made an address, saying that no man with
respect for himself willing TO send his child 10
a building with such history.
Rev r. z Laws said IL was the duty OF the COL
ored trustees In the school board to protect the
interests OF their race, and II they did not they
should De held responsible. The white people, he
said would not send their children 10 such place
as proposed. .sLet colored citizens" he said 'de-
mand q proper place, and let the Commissioners
know that we will not let our children live In white
peoples NTH" They should, he SAID let the Com
nissIoners that the colored citizens OF South
Washington Will not allow their children 70 go 10
w. Calvin Chase said that the facts were that
the colored trustees opposed the report, and ne
believed that there had been Misrepresentation In
the matter. Mr.. Augenstein, the owner OF the
Miller building, stated that the white people OBJ
lected 20 colored children going there, and MI.
he said, did all they could 10 secure the Miller
building.
MIRA STROUD OBJECTS TO A NAME.
Mr.. Atkinson remarked that the Mary Hall
building, In which they propose toplace the school,
now has free dispensary init.
Mrs. Stroud, one OF the Minor fund trustees, who
was present, here said: at Is the building
owned by the trustees Of the Minor fund and
there was no Mary Han building" .,
yes" said Mrs. Stroud. "for recently was
called TO sign an application for license and the
party said She knew that would not sign, but
She wa, compelled to comply with the law, and
she informed me that there were seven other such
applications TO come" They proposed TO do the
work. she said, To save the children, and there
were hundreds OF sucn In that neighborhood who
Mr.. chase SAID their principal objection was the
effort OF the trustees TO place the colored people
wherever they pleased. He admitted that the
building was excellently adapted TO missionary
WORK. for II Is bounded on the east by courtezans
and on the north by Louise alley and is the lowest
spot In the city.
The committee reported the resolutions, setting
forth that .the refusal Of the public school trus-
tees 20 rent building for school purposes because
few people residing in the locality made objec-
ton 10 It's use for colored children Is deeply re-
GREETED and heartily condemned" that "the
Recommendation OF a majority OF the school trus-
tees that the house corner AZ street and Maryland
accommodstion OF coiored children is most earn
esty disapprOyed; the refusal OF a majority OF the
board To rent building conveniently located, In
respectable neighoorhood, and recommending the
renting OF another located In n most disreputable
part Of the city, against the solemn protest OF the
respectable eolored people was an unklnd act. re-
OF the wishes OF the cOlored citizens OF this Dis
tr1ct;- that "the classification or all the colored
cation intelligence and means OF support proper
subjects for missionary effort among the fallen
orfsrea and we huri the impuiafion back mon
those no. in the name OF doing good among the
low victims OF vicious fe seek 10 class ali OF the
deavoring 10 induce the commissioners TO divert
the school funds the support OF private mission
o. the eolored people, that awe respectfully
request that the school-house known as
the Miller school-hOuse be rented for school pur-
poses" and that "a committee 0f seven be ap-
pointed 20 present a copy OF this preamble and
resolutions 70 the honorable Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia"
Mr. cHAsE's AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Chase offered an amendment that in case
the building Is engaged by the Commissioners that
the cooTed people OF the District shall be requested
not to send their children to the Mary Hail build
ing.
building"
Mr. Jesse Lawson having remarked that he
though, s pr9Per to protest against the selection
sisted You must call II the Minor Fund build
ing"
cided that boycotting was an Ofrense, he did not
think they would De prosecuted they 0oycotted
MT. j. W. Freeman said he believed that 1000
OF the 60.OOO colored people were opposed To the
proposed use OF this building. The very ground he
said was cursed
xR. DOUGLASS SPEAKS.
Mr. Frederick Douglass said that the meeting
showed that there was a strong feeling that the
Commissioners In their proposal had acted In
obedience 10 sentiment and feeling OF prejudice
against the eolored race. He protested against
this prejudice. They might, he said, go too far
however, and injure what they do not propose TO
inJure. Because a neighborhood was bad there
WAS no necessity for people to be bad; man may
walk this same fOotway with a courteZan and not
be contaminated. Jesus himself was found among
sinners and puolicanS The Commissioners could
be compelled 10 give colored children respectable
place for the school without attaching the place
Al the corner OLA street the vile epit used and
he regrefte so much had been said regarding It.
because the very aim desired TO be prevented was
really promoted by calling the attention OF
colOred girls and boys 10 the character OF the
place, as many would go down there TO see IL
merely from hearing end reading OF IL in the
papers Mr.. Douglass then referred TO Miss Miners
efforts for the education OF the cOlOred race, and
said that the result was a fund OF $4,000 which
was In part invested at AZ street and Mary land
avenue. He was with them, but did not want
10 do injustice 10 the Commissioners. In reply to
questions, Mr.. Douglass said he was one OF the
Miner Trustees, and ne wanted 10 establish there
school where boys may be taught trades.
OTHER SPEECHES.
Mr.. Moore said he had no objection to the house.
but 10 the surroundings and he would not send a
child there. II the whole square was purchased IL
would not oe 50 bad
kevs. walter Brooks, W. ]. Howard, and w. H.
Draper also spoke In protest against the PROPOSE
lion
Rx-Schooi Trustee John H. Brooks said that it
was nothing but prejudice that caused the giving
up OF the MILLER building, and IL was a dscrimina-
the Commissioners lie did not believe that Mr.
Douglass was speaking as himself, but rather as
the attorney OF the Minor board
The resolutions were then adopted. and when
Mr.. Douglass learned that Mr.. Cnase's amendment
was lncladed he withdrew his vote.